PARRY SOUND, ON – A local hockey player has been invited to showcase his skills for Team Canada this summer.
Aidan Dudas currently plays for the Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League and led the team in points last season. The Parry Sound native was selected by Los Angeles Kings in the fourth round of the 2018 NHL entry draft.
Now Dudas will get the chance to perform on the international stage at the National Junior Team Sport Chek Summer Development Camp.
The right winger was pretty pumped to hear the news.
“I had just got back from the gym and I was hanging out at my house,” Dudas said. “Then the general manager of this year’s Team Canada called and told me about the news. I was obviously pretty excited and called my parents and my brother right away. It was pretty cool for me.”
While Dudas was thrilled, it didn’t exactly come as a surprise to him.
“I had a pretty good season and I had a pretty good one the year before too,” Dudas said. “I was really hoping to get an invite. I wasn’t positive, but I thought I had a good chance and put myself in a good spot to get the invite.”
The 19-year-old stayed pretty humble about the honour. He said it is just a showcase and it isn’t like he has made Team Canada’s World Junior squad yet.
Dudas is one of 43 players who will make up two different Canadian teams. The U.S. is also sending two teams with the other countries only rostering one.
The winger said he is looking forward to learning from other great players and coaches along with working on his own game.
Canada will play two games against the U.S., and one against Finland and Sweden before the playoffs begin.
The tournament runs from July 27th to August 4th and is being held in Plymouth, Michigan.